Machine head-control mechanism



May 22, 1945. F. B. .DEN 2,376,540

i MACHINE HEAD-CONTROL MECHANISM l Filed Jan. 14, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor: Fred Biden,

May 22, 1945. 'Fl B. IDEN 2,376,540v

MCHINE HEAD-CONTROL MECHNISM Filed Jan. 14, 1943 l* 3 'sheets-sheet 2 Figa.

May 22,.

F. B. IDEN MACHINE HEAD- CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Jan. 14 1943 bgra/ vmww' His A'ttomep;

sheets-Sheet s Fred B lden7 Patented May 22, 1945 MACHINE HEAD-CONTROL MECHANISM Fred B. Iden, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assigner t'o General Electric Co New York mpany, a corporation of pplication January 14, 1943, Serial No. 472,397

Claims. (Cl. 49-2) My invention relates, in'general, to indexingmachines ofthe type comprising a carrier provided with one or, more rotatable work-supporting heads which are indexed to a plurality of work stations or positions by the carrier. More particularly, my invention relates to mechanism IKor controlling the operation of heads on machines of the indexing type.

Rotary indexing machines of the above`men` tioned type are in general use in the manufacture oi electric incandescent lamps, such as for sealing together certain of the glass lamp parts. Such a machine is shown, for example, in United States Patent No. 1,742,153, issued December 31.

' i929. to W. H. Stiles et al. and disclosing'a ma- Another object of my invention is to provide al I machine of the indexing type .having improved means tor rotating the heads of such machine at certain oi the work stations thereof, and for maintaining the heads locked in a deiinite an' ghiaipositlon at the others of said work stations as well asI during the index movement of the heads laetween the said other stations.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a head rotating and positioning arrangement for a machine of the indexing' type which wiii provide positive control over the rotative movement of each head at all times during the course of its travel between, and its positioning at, the work stations of the machine.

.4i tui-ther object of my invention is to provide an improved head rotating mechanism for a. machine of the indexing type which will. impart a. deiinite amount oi' rotational movement to each head when positioned at those stations where rotation oi the head is to take place.

still further object of my invention is to provide a machine of the indexing type having on the heads and machine base which serve to lock the heads in a deiinite rotative position dur-r ing their indexing travel between, and while they are positioned at, the others 'of the said work sta.-

-tions of the machine.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description 4oi a species thereof and from the accompanying drawings in which: i

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the turret and underlying head rotating and head locking parts of a machine comprisingv my invention with the turret broken away to betterv show the said underlying parts and with. the head rotating sector gear shown in its advanced position; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-.2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. l and show.- ing, on an enlarged scale, the head positioned at station D of Fig. l with the head rotating sector gear shown in its retracted position; Fig. t is a fragmentary perspective view of the head rotating means comprising my invention, with the sector gear thereof shown in its retracted position and with only one head oi the machine A(i. e., the head at station D) shown in operative relation thereto; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly 'in pian and partly in section, on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3 and showing the head rotating and head .locking means at station D with the sector gear of the head rotating means shown in its retracted position; and Fig, 6 is a vertical section K movement of the sector gear in one direction takon theA line -t o Fig. 3.

The machine shown in the accompanying drawings'comprises a cam-operated oscillating sector gear for rotating the heads on the machine turret by the engagement of the sector gear with a pinion gear on each head spindle, the oscillating ing place while the turret is stationary so as to effect the rotation oi' the rturret heads, while the movement of the sector gear in the oppositev direction takes place in unison with the turret indexing movement so as to effectively lock the heads against rotation during such indexing movement. The machine further comprises a head-rotating sector gear having separable end sections which are movable relative to the main body portion of the sector gear in a direction 1ongitudinally of the .gear teeth thereon, the said gear end sections heing moved into or out of meshing engagement with the pinion gear on the head spindle by the engagement of each gear end section with a stationary cam during the oscillating movement oi' the sector gear.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is there shown as applied to a machine for buttsealing electric incandescent lamps, similar to the machine disclosedin the aforesaid United States Patent No. 1,742,153 to Stiles et al. The machine comprises a base or support stand I (Fig. 2) comprising a horizontal table Il supported by, and fastened to, a pedestal I2. Disposed above the table II is a carrier or turret I3 which is carried by, and keyed to, a central hollow shaft I4 which extends through the table II into a chamber Il formed by an enlarged housing portion Ii on the upper end of the pedestal I2. The shaft I4 surrounds, and is rotatably mounted on, an upstanding hollow supportjcolumn I1 flxedly secured to the pedestal I2 and extending upwardly therefrom through the table II and the shaft I4. The weight of the turret I3 and its associated support shaft I4 is carried by a ball or roller bearing I3 which rests on the top of the pedestal I2, the lower end of the shaft I4 resting against the said bearing.A

Mounted on the turret I3, at uniformly spaced `points around the periphery thereof,V area plurality of heads I9 which are rotatably supported on the turret. Each head I9 carries means for receiving and supporting a bulb and length of tubing 2| to be joined or sealed together. The

` heads I! are successively indexed in a counterclockwisel direction by the turret I3 to stations A to Q (Fig. 1), the turret and its support shaft a deilnite function inproducing the seal between the bulb 2l and the tube 2|. Stations A to Dinclusive are stations for loading each head I9 with a bulb 23, a mount 23 and a length of aavauc t cured thereto in any .suitable manner, as by set screws for instance. Mounted on the sleeve 33 immediately above the pinion gear thereon is a head rotative positioning disc or shoe 36 provided with-a flattened surface 31 for engagement with an arcuate shaped guide or shoe tracl/y 33 rigidly fastened to the upper surface of the machine table I I, as by a bracket 33. The said disc or shoe 36 is secured to, and locked against ro-l tation on the sleeve 30 by a pair of set screws 33 (Fig. 5) spaced 90 apart and screwed down against ilats on the sleeve. Mounted on the sleeve SII and fitting snugly in the space between the'lower end 4I of the, turret bearing 3l and the upper surface 42 of the shoe 33, is a ball bearing- 32 ,with the opposite ends 4I and 34 of the turret tubing 2 I and for properly aligning the said parts 22 keyed to a main drive shaft 23 mounted on the Y machine base I0 below the table portion Il thereof. The said drive shaft '23 is rotated by a motor driven cross shaft 24 through a worm gear arrangement comprising a worm gear 25 on f the drive shaft and a meshing worm 26 on the cross shaft. I'he said cross shaft 24 is driven by a motor (not shown) through. suitable means.

such as a chain and sprocket drive or a belt and pulley drive (not shown). Mounted on the cam disc 22 is a spirally grooved cam segment 21 of 90 arcuate extent'which successively engages rollers 23 depending from the underside of `a circular plate 23 which is disposed within the pedestal chamber I5 and is keyed to the turret drive shaft i4. The plate 23 is provided with aroller u for each head n or the tan-et, andthe shape of the cam 22, 21 is lsuch as to successively index the turret heads I3 from one station to'another.

As shown in Fig. 3, each ofthe heads I9 comprises a vertical hollow sleeve 30 rotatably 'mounted' in a bearing 3l on the turret I3. Flxedly secured to the upper end of the -sleeve 33 is 'afdisc or ange 32 having a depending hub Pportion 33 which rests against the upperl end 34 bearing.

Extending through and slidably mounted in the sleeve 33 is a spindle or rod 44 having an enlarged hollowhead portion at its upper end towhich a hollow bulb holder'46 is attached. The said bulb i holder is provided with a cup-shaped 'seat 4,1 for the bulb 20, and the bulb is held in position in the holder by means of a vacuum which is supplied from a source (not shown) through a pipe 43 extending through the center support column I1 and connected, by connections 49, to a rotary contro1 valve 50 locatedat thetop of the support column I1. The vacuum is connected to each of the heads I9 from the rotary control valve SII by means of connections or pipes 5I threaded into openings 32 in the turret bearings 3| which communicate with wells or enlarged bore portions 53 in the hollow interior of the turret bearings. The

wells 53 communicate with vertically elongated slots 54 in the head sleeves 30 which slots in turn communicate with the hollow interior ofthe bulb holders 48 through l connecting transverse and longitudinalbores I! and 53, respectively, in the head spindle 44.

'I'he lower end of the spindle 44 is provided with a washer-shaped shoe or disc 51 for engagement with an underlying circular cam track 5B vfastened to the table Il. The spndle 44 and its bottom shoe 51 are constantly urged downwardly into' engagement with the cam track 58 by a compression lcoil spring 453 iltting over the spindle and bearing at its upper end against the sleeve 30 and at its lower end against a shoulder 80 on the spindle.

The sleeve 30 and spindle 44 are locked against rotation relative to one another by a transversely extending pin 3| in the spindle the opposite ends of which pin extend into vertically elongated slots 1 62 in the inner wall or the sleeve. The pin 3| is free to slide in the slots 32 vto thereby permit vertical movement of the spindle 44 relative to the sleeve 30, as eifected by the cam track Il during the course of travel of the heads I l around the machine.

of the turret bearing. -At its lower end, the

sleeve 33 is provided witha pinion gear 3l. While the pinion gear 33 is preferably formed integral with the sleeve 3l, as shown, it may, if'desired, vbe formed separately therefrom and nxedly setive close In the-machine according to the invention.

each head I3 remains stationary in its turret Each head I8 is provided with holdingy means for thelength of tubing 2I=to be sealed totheglass bulb 2l, the said holding means comprising a pair of spring-closed laws 33 pivotally mounted on an uostandlng support post orrod 34 fastened to the disc porton 32 of the head.' The Jaws 33 are adapted toreceive and hold the tube 2| in a vertical position in alignment with. and in relaproxlmity to; the neck oLthe lamp bulb arranco 3 bearing Il at all times during the operation of the machine except vduring the interval when it is positioned -at certain oi' the work stations of the machine, at which stations it is given a definite amount of rotational movement. Thus, in the speciiic machine illustrated, each head I9 is rotated through approximately one and one-half turns while it is positioned at each of stations E to N inclusive, but is held against rotation at the other stations A to D and O to Q as well as during the index movement of the head between all of the stations.-

In accordance with my invention, the means for rotating the heads i9 at stations E to N, inclusive, comprises an oscillating sector gear 65 rotatably mounted on the turret support shaft i4 between the turret il and the table Il and supported by a ball bearing 66 resting on the table II. The sector gear B5 engages the pinion gears 35 on the heads I 9, when the latter are posii tioned at stations E to N inclusive, to thereby rotate the heads upon movement oi the sector gear relative to the pinion gears. The sector gear (i5` is of sumcient arcuate extent to engage the pinion gears 35 on successive heads I9 one more in number than the number 4oi! heads which are to be rotated at any given stationary position of the turret. Thus, in the particular machine shown employing sixteen heads of which nine successive` ones are to be rotated for a given index position oi' the turret (i. e., the heads positioned at stations E to N inclusive), the sector gear 85 extends through ten successive heads including the nine which are to rotate. In other words, the sector gear 55 is slightly more than 202% degrees in arcuate .extent i The oscillating movement of the sector gear 05 is produced by a rotating groove@ disc cam di disposed immediately underneath the sector gearbetween the said gear and the table il. The said disc cam Bil is keyed to the upper end. of a vertical shaft t8 which extends through and'is iournaled in a bearing t@ in the table il. The cam shaft te is driven by the main drive shaft 2t through a second vertical shaft i (Flg. 2) having a sprocket il ywhich is connected by a chain 'W to a sprocket 'i3 on the lower end of the cam shaft tt, the said shaft'i beiner driven by the main drive shaft 23 through a pair of internveshing spiral gears it, i! and being iournaied in arings V6, 'i1 on the table i i and machine stand The disc 61 is provided with a cam groove 'it in its upper surface into which nts a depending roller i9 on the sector gear 65. As the cam disc 6i rotates. the roller 79 rides in the cam groove lid and imparts movement to the sector gear 0B as determined by the shape of the said cam. which shape is such as to continuously oscillate the sector gear t hack and forth through an arcequal to the angular spacing (221/2 degrees) of the turret heads i9, one revolution of the cam tl producing one complete oscillation of the sector gear 6h. In addition, the cam B1 is so shaped and timed with the index movement of the tunerl ar as to "advance the sector gear 65 (i. e.. rotate it in a counterclockwise direction) in exact unison with the turret I3 during the index thereof. and then return thesector gear (i e.. rotate theI said gear in a clockwise directonas vviewed in plan) at a uniform rate of speed during the interval when the turret i3 is stationary;

The size or pitch diameters of the sector gear 65 and the co-operating pinion gears 35 on the heads i9 are selected so as to rotate each head titi only a slight amount, preferably through ap' proximately one and one-half turns, for each return or head-rotating movement'oi the sector gear. Such a slight amount of head rotation thus enables the operation oi the machine at relaas the time required for each index movement of the turret, the actual speed of rotation, of a head I9 which rotates through a total oi fourteen full turns at the nine head-rotating stations E to N, amounts to only 861/2 R. P. M., or approximately 1.45 revolutions per second, which obviously is a relatively slow rotational speed.

In accordance with the invention, the sector gear first engages the head pinion gears 35 during the index movements of the heads i6 to the iirst head rotating station E, and then nally disengages the head pinion gears during the index of the heads from the last head rotating station N. To enable the opposite ends of the sector gear 65 to engage and disengage the head pinion gears t5 during such index movements thereof, without stripping the gear teeth and the head pinion gears 35 during the index movement of each head i9 from stations D to E and the corresponding advance movement of the sector gear. Segment si is located at the back or rear end of the sector gear Gt and is moved downwardly out of meshing engagement withthe head pinion gears tu during the index of each head it from stations N to O and the corresponding advance movement of the sector gear.

As shown particularly in Fis. 3, the gear end segments and iii are slidably mounted each on a pair of vertical guide posts 82 depending from the main bodyv portion of the sector gear and spaced apart radially of the sector gear. The gear end segments t0, ti are of more or less inverted U-shape and-have outer' and inner depending iegs t3 and 8i, respectively, provided with guide openings 35 through which the guide posts 02 extend. At the outer end thereof, each gear ends'egment t0, di is provided with a radially outward extending tongue portion Se terminating inggear teeth 6l which correspond to the gear teeth on the main body portion of the sector gear and form a continuation thereof when the f gear end segment is in its uppermost, or pinion gear engaging position. The gear teeth 81 on the two gear end segments 00 and 8i are exact duplicates of one another, and the two segments 00, ti are mounted on the sector gear proper so as to radially align with the heads I0 during the index of the heads from stations D to E and stations N to 0.

The guide posts B2 aresecured, as by set screws t2' (Fig. 6) to laterally Aextending lugs 88 on the sector gear (i5. As shown in Fig. 6, the said lugs t8 are upwardly oifset relative tothe main body portion of the sector gear 65 so as to provide clearance for the gear end segments B0, ti

when they are raised to their uppermostA posi-v tions. Y

The vertical movements of the gear end segments 80 and 8|, as the sector gear 8B oscillates, are produced respectively by arcuate shaped cam blocks or plates 89 and 90 bolted or otherwise iixedly secured to the machine table Il and provided with cam grooves sl and 82, respectively, in each of which rides a roller 93 rotatably mounted on the corresponding gear end segment. The said cam blocks 89 and 90 are disposed between the depending legs 83, 84 of the corresponding gear end segments 80, 8| and the cam grooves 9i, 92 in the said cam blocks are formed in the front or outer vertical faces thereof while the rollers 93 are mounted on. and extend from the rear or inner -side of, the outer legs 83 of the gear end segments.

The cam groove 9| in cam 89 is so shaped as to gradually raise the gear end segment 80, and slide the gear teeth 81 thereon into meshing engagement with the aligned gear teeth on the head pinion gears 35, during the index movement of each head I9 from stations D to E in unison with the advance or counterclockwise movement of the sector gear B5. the teeth on the segment and head pinion gears 80 and 35 first engaging one another when each head I9 has traveled only a relatively small portion of its total index distance from stations D to E,

The cam groove 92 in cam 90 is so shaped as to gradually lower the gear end segment 8|, and slide the gear teeth 81, thereon out of meshing engagement with the teeth on the headpinion gears 35, during the index movement of each head I9 from stations N to O in unison with the advance `or counterclockwise movement of the sectorgear 85, the teeth on the segment and head pinion gears 8| and 35 finally disengaging from one another after each head has traveled a considerable portion of its total index distance from stations Nto O.

'I'he turret heads I9 are continuously locked against rotation', during the time the head pinion gears 3l are not in engagement with the sector I! with the track Il, from a time just before the heads become disengaged from the sector gear BI during their index movement from stations N to O until Just after they re-engage the sector gear during their index movement from stations D to E.

Due to thel rotative locking of the heads Il by the engagen ent of the shoes 36 with the track il, the pinion gear 35 on each head I9, as the head starts to index from stations D to E, will therefore be in exactly the same rotative position as it had when it was disengaged by the sector gear 6l during the course of the said heads index gear by the engagement of the shoe 38 on each head I0 with the arcuate guide or shoe track 38. As shown in Fig. 1, the said shoe track 38 -before the gear end segment" at the rear end of the sector gear 85 becomes disengaged from the head pinion gear 35 during the index of the head from stations N to O. `Likewise, the rear end l of the shoe track Il projects beyond station D (i. e., toward station E) a sumcient distance to insure the engagement of the head pinion gear Il with the gear end segment 80 at the front end of the sector gear 65 before the shoe n on the'head rides oif the rear end of the track `3l during the index of e'ach head I9 from stations D to E. As a result, there is an 'overlap of. the head rotational lock produced by the interenmovement from stations N to O. Since the teeth 81 on the two gear end segments I0 and II are exactly alike and the two segments III, Il .are radially aligned with the heads 'I9 during the index of the heads from stations N to O and D to E, the teeth 81 on gear end segment Il will therefore be in exact intermeshing alignment with the teeth on the head pinion gears #I during the index of each head I9 from stations D to E, as shown in Fig. 5. Consequently, when the gear end segment l0 is moved upwardly by cam 89, during the course of index of each head I. from stations D to E, the teeth 81 on the said gear segment 80 will slide freely between, and mesh with, the teeth-on the head pinion gear Il.

In order not to interfere with the oscillating movements of the sector gear 6l, the opposite ends of the shoe track 38 are notched or recessed at the inner sides thereof, as indicated at Il in` Figs. 1 and 5, to thereby accommodate the outermost lugs I8 on the sector gear when the said gear is at the extreme limits pf its oscillating movement.

The operation oi' the machine comprising my invention may be summarized as follows:

At stations A to D, each head I9 is load/ed, either by hand or by automatic meansv (not shown) located at such stations, with a bulb 2l, mount 20' and length of tubing 2 I, the head being locked against rotation at the said stations, as well. as during its index movement therebetween by thev engagement of the shoe 38 on the head sleeve'lll with the shoe track 3B. During the interval when each head is positioned at station D, the disc cam 61 turns the sector gear Il in a clockwise'direction to' its retracted or head pickup" position, the forward gear end segment Il of the sector gear being lowered out-of horizontal alignment with the head pinion gear 3l at station D by the actio of the cam 89 on the said segment 80 during suc retracting movement of the sector gear. The said retracting movement of the 'sector gear il meanwhile rotates'all the head pinion gears Il, andI therefore all the heads Il, with which the sector gear is engaged at stations E to gaged sector and head pinion gears '65 and JI, i

'with the head rotational lock produced by the interengaged head shoes it and track I8, during the index of each head I9- from stations N to O and from stations D to E. The turret heads Il, therefore, are continuously locked in a definite rotative position, by the engagement of the head shoes N inclusive, veach.v head being rotated through approximately one and one-half turns. y

Just as soon as the sector gear I! has reached its retracted position, the turret Il starts to index,

and the disc cam l1 then rotates the sector gear Il inthe opposite or counterclockwise direction in such a manner as to move as a unit with the turret. During this unitary advancing ,movement of the turret I3 and sector gear 85, the 'cam Il raises the forward gear end segment 8l -ints meshing engagement with the pinion gear 3l -on the head which is indexing from stations D to E,

, the said end segment initially engaging the head pinion gear before the shoe I8 on the head '.rides off the rear end 8l of the shoe track 38 so as to continuously maintain the rotative locking of the head during the entire index movement thereof from stations -D to E.

As soon as the turret I3 completesits index movement, the sector gear 55 again changes its direction of movement and rotates clockwise once more, by the action of the disc cam 51 thereon, to its retracted position. This clockwise or return movement of the sector gear G51-.hen rotates the head `I9 which has just been indexed to station E, as well as `all the other'heads I9 which have just been indexed to stations`F to` N inclusive.

' From station E, `where those portions of the bulb .20 and tube 2| which are to be sealed together are'heated by gas iiames from burners (not sociated head I9 are indexed from stations N to 0. Following such -reengagement of the shoe track 38 by the lshoe 36 of each head between stations N to O, the head is then continuously locked against rotation by the interengaged shoe and shoe track from the time of such re-engagement until the point. intermediate stations D and E where the shoe again rides off the rear end 96 of the shoe track.

Inasmuch as each head I9 is engaged either by the shoe track 38 or the sector gear 65 at all times during the course of its travel around the ma chine, the rotative position. of the head is thereshown) located at the said station, the head I9 is then successively indexed by the. turret I3 to stations F to N inclusive, at which stations the,

bulb and tube 2l are further heated by gas ames from burners (not shown) located at such stations and the bulb and tube finally fused together. During the index of each head to each of stations F to N, the sector gear 65 rotates as a unit with the turret so as to effectively lock the head against rotation during such index movement. After each head reaches, and is positioned at each` of the said stations F to N, the sector gear 65 then reverses its direction of rotation and returns to its retracted position, such return movement of the sector gear e thus serving to rotate the head through approximately one and one-half turns at each of the said stations.

From the final head rotating station N, each head I9 is then successively indexed to stations O to Q where the heads remain stationary and the.

relative to the head pinion gear such -as to cause rotation of the said pinion gear. During the index movement of each head from stations N to O, however,` the gear end segment-8| at the rear end of the sector gear 65 isv lowered out of meshing engagement'with the head pinion gear 35 bythe action of the cam 90 on the said gear segment during the advancing movement of theA sector gear in unison with the turret index movement. Also during the index of each head from stations N to O, the shoe 35 on the headsleeve 38 engages the shoe track'38 lto thereby lock the headagainst rotation, the said shoe engaging the shoe trackV before the gear end segment 8| 'is actually disengaged from the head pinion gear 35 soas to continuously maintain the rotative locking ofthe Vhead during the entire index movement thereof from stations N to O.

Inasmuch as each head I 9 is rotated through a total of fourteen full turns `from the `time it arrives at the first headrotatingy station E until it leaves the last head rotating station N, each shoe 36 is herefore in the same rotative position, during the index thereofffromstations N to O, as. that. `which the said shoe had'when it became disengaged from therear end 98 oftheshoe trackt between stations VD and'E. Asa result.' the at 31 of each shoe 35 is in proper inwardly facing position or alignmentiwith the shoe track 38j for engagement therewith "as `the lshoe jan'd its asfore under positive control at all times during such travel. In addition, each head is given the same `amount of rotation at each of the head rotating stations E to N, as a result of which the bulb 20 and tubing 2l on successive heads are heated in exactly the same manner. l20

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a carrier having an article-supporting head rotatably mounted thereon, means for indexing said carrier to move said head to a plurality of work stations, and other means for rotating said head at at least one of said stations comprising a pinion gear on the head, a head-rotating gear arranged to mesh with said pinion gear during the index of the head to, and while it is positioned at, the said one station, and actuating means for oscillating said head-rotating gearto rst advance it together with the carrier, and to then retract it while the said head is positioned at the said one station to thereby rotate the head.

. 2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a carrier having a plurality of equally spaced article-supporting' heads rotatably mounted thereon, means for indexing said carrier to move said heads to a plurality of work stations, and other means for rotating said heads at certain of said stationsv comprising a. pinion gear on each of said heads, ahead-rotating gear arranged to mesh with the said pinion gears during the index of the heads to the said certain stations and while they are positioned' thereat, and actuating means for oscillating said headrotating gear through a distance equal to the spacing of the heads to iirst advance it together with the carrier, and to then retract it while the carrier is stationary 't'o thereby rotate the heads positioned at the said certain stations.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a carrier having a plurality of article-supporting heads rotatably mounted thereon, means for indexing said carrier to move said heads to a plurality of work stations, means for locking said heads against rotation at certain successive ones of said stations and during the index of said heads to and away from the said certain.

just priorto the krelease of the head by the saidV locking means and a rear section arranged to be said head-rotating.l gear being in continuous engagement with the pinion gears contiguous thereto, and actuating means for oscillating said head-,t rotating gear to first advanceit together with' the carrier, and to then retract it while the carrier is stationary to thereby rotate all the heads positioned at the said other stations.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a carrier having a plurality of article-supporting heads rotatably mounted thereon, means for indexing said carrier to move said heads to a plurality of work stations, means for locking said heads against rotation at certain successive ones of said stations and` during the index of said heads to and away from the said certain stations, means for rotating said heads at the others of said stations comprising a pinion gear on each of said heads, a head-rotating gear arranged to mesh with the said pinion gears from a time just prior to the release of the headvby the said locking means until a time just after the relooking of the head by the said locking means, and actuating means for oscillating said headrotating gear to ilrst` advance it together with the carrier, and to then retract it while the carrier is stationary to thereby rotate all the heads positioned at the said other stationsI lsaid head-rotat- -ing gear comprising a main body portion and a separable gear end segment at each end thereof movable relative to the said main body portion, and cam means for moving said gear end segments into and out of meshing alignment with the said pinion gearsduring the oscillating movesaid stations comprising Aa pinion gear on eachv of said heads, a rotatable sector gear concentric with said turret and arranged to mesh with said pinion gears during the index ai the heads to the said certain stations and While they are positioned thereat, and actuating means for rotating said sector gear rstin one direction to advance it in unison with said turret, and then in an opposite direction while the turret is stationary to thereby rotate all the heads positioned at the said certain stations.

gears during the rotating movements of said sector gear.

,'7. In amachine of the character described, the

combination of arotatable turret having a plurality of article-supporting heads Arotatably mounted thereon, means for intermittentlyrotating said. turret to thereby successively index said heads to a plurality of work stations, means for locking said heads against rotation at vcertain successive ones of said stations and during the index o f said heads to and away from the said certain stations, and vmeans for rotating said heads-at the othersof said stations comprising a pinion gear on each of said heads, a rotatable sector gear concentric with said turret and arranged to mesh with said pinion gears from a time just prior to the release of the head by said locking means until a time Just after the relocking of the head by said locking means, and actuating Ymeans for rotating said sector gear iirst in one direction to advance it in unison with said turret, and then in an opposite direction while the turret is stationary to thereby rotate the heads positioned at the said other stations, said sector gear having end portions thereof movable into and out of meshing alignment with the head pinion y gears during the rotating movements of said sec- 6. In a machine of the character described, the A combination of a rotatable turret having a plurality of article supporting heads rotatably mounted thereon, means for intermittently rotating said turret to thereby successively index said heads to a plurality of work stations, means for locking said heads against rotation at certain successive ones of said stations and during the index of said heads to and away from the said certain stations, and means for rotating said heads at the others of said stations comprising a pinion gear on each of said heads, a rotatable sector gear concentric with said turret and arranged to mesh with said piniongears from a A time just prior to therelease of the head by said locking means until a time just after the relooking of the head by said locking means, and actuating means for rotating said sector gear iirst in one direction to advanceit in unison with said turret, and then in an opposite direction while the turret is stationary to thereby rotate the heads positioned at the said other stations, said sector gear comprising end portions movable into and out of engagement with the head pinion gears, and operating means for moving said end portions into and out oi.' engagement with the said pinion torgear while the intermediate portion of said sector gear remains in meshing engagement with the head pinion gears during the rotating movements of said sector gearand operating means for moving said gear end portions as aforesaid i!! proper time relation to the indexing motion of the turret.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable turret having a plurality of article supporting heads rotatably mounted thereon, means for intermittently rotating said turret to thereby successively index said heads to a plurality of work stations, means for locking said heads against rotation at certain successive ones of said stations and during the index of said heads lto and away from' tm said certain stations, means'for rotating said heads at the others of said stations comprising a pinion gear on each of said heads, a rotatable sector gear concentric with said turret and arranged to mesh with said pinion gears from a time Just prior to the release of the head by said locking means,

until a time Just after the relooking ot the head by said locking means, and actuating means for rotating said sector gear rst in one direction to advance it in unison with said turret. and then in an ,opposite direction while the turret is stationary to thereby rotate thev heads positioned at the said other stations, said sector gear comprising a main body portion and a separable end segment at each end thereof movable relative to the said main body portion, and cam means for moving said end segments into and out of meshing alignment with the said pinion gears during the rotating movements of said sector gear.

9. In a machine of the character described. the combination of a rotatable turret having a plurality of article supporting heads rotatablymounted thereon, means for intermittently rotating said turret to thereby successively index said heads-to a plurality ot work stations, means for locking said heads against rotation at certain successive ones of saidstations and during the index of said heads to and away from the said certain'stations, the head-locking means comprising a shoe on each ot said heads and a stationary track for engagement with the shoes on said heads, and means for rotating said heads at until a time just after the re-engagement of said head-locking means, and actuating means for routating said sector gear in timed relation with the [turret to ii'rst advance the said sector gear in unison with the turret so as to lock the heads against rotation during the index of said turret, and to then retract the said sector gear while the turret is stationary to thereby rotate the heads positioned at the said other staions, said sector gear comprising end portions movable into and out of engagement with the head pinion gears, and operating means for moving said end portions into and out of engagement with the said pinion gears during the rotating movements of said sector gear.

10. In a machine ofthe character described. the combination of a rotatable turret having a plurality of article supporting heads rotatably tating said turret to thereby successively index said heads to a plurality of work stations, means for locking said heads 'against rotation at certain successive ones of said stations and during the index/ot said heads to and away from the said certain stations, the head-locking means comprising a shoe on each of said heads and a stationary track for engagement with the shoes on said heads. means for rotating said heads at the others of said stations comprising a pinion gear on each of said heads, a rotatable sector ear concentric/with said turret and arranged to m sh with said pinion gears from a time just prior to the disengagement of said head-locking means until a time just after the reengagement of said .head-locking means-and actuating means for rotating said sector gear in timed relation with the turret to iirst advancef the said sector gear in unison with the turret so as to lock the heads against rotation during the index of said turret, and to then retract thev said sector gear while the turret is stationary to thereby rotate the heads positioned at the saidother stations, said sector gear comprising a main body portion and a'separable end segment at each end thereof movable relative to the said main body portion, and cam means for moving said end segmentsinto and out of meshing alignment with the said pinion gears during the rotating movements of said sector gear.

11. In a machine of the type comprising a ro tatable turret having a plurality of work-support'ing heads rotatably mounted thereon and means for intermittently rotating said turret'to successively index said heads to a plurality of work stations, the combination vtherewith of Y means for rotating said heads at a series of successive ones of said stations, the head-rotating means comprising a pinion gear on each of said heads, a rotatable sector gear concentric with saidturret and arranged to engage vthe pinion gears on said heads during their index to and away from the said series of head-rotating stations and while they are positioned thereat, and

lable carrier having a plurality of heads rotatably mounted thereon and means for intermittently indexing said carrier to carry the heads to a plurality of stations, a pinion gear carried by each of said heads, ami means for rotating the heads at a series of successive stations comprising a gear mounted thereon, means for intermittently romember arranged to continuously engage the pini 20 ions on heads at the series of head-rotating stations, actuating means for oscillating said gear member to rst advance it in unison with the carrier during the indexing motion and to 'then retract it while the carrieris at rest to thereby rotate the heads at said head-rotating stations, said gear member comprising sections at the front and rear ends thereof movable into and out of engagement with the pinions on certain heads without disengaging the remainder of the gear member from the pinions on heads at said head-rotating stations, and-means for moving the front section of the gear member into engagement with the 4 pinion on a head during the index of said head to carry the heads to a plurality of stations, a pinion actuating means for rotating said sector gear ln timed relation with said turret to first advance the said sector gear in unison with lthe turret so as to lock theV gear-engaged heads against rotation during the index of the turret, and to then retract the said sector gear while the turret is stationary to thereby rotate the heads positioned gear carried by each of said heads, and means for rotating the heads at a series oi successive stations comprising a gear member coextensive with the said successive stations and with an adjacent station and continuously engaging the pinions on heads at said successive stations, said gear member comprising end sections movable into and out of engagement with the pinions on heads at stations adjacent to said successive stations without disengaging the remainder of the gear member from the pinions on heads at the said successive stations, means for oscillating said gear member to rst advance it in unison with the carrier during the indexing motion and to retract it while the carrier is at rest to thereby rotate the heads at the said successive stations, and means for moving the front and rear end sections of said gear member respec- .tively into and out o! engagement with the pinlocking said heads against rotation, and means for rotating the heads at the seriesot successive remaining stations comprising a sector gear coextensive with the said successive remaining stations and with an adjacent station and continuously engaging the pinion gears on the heads at said successive remaining stations, said sector gear having front and rear end sections vertically movable relative to the main sector, means for oscillating said sector gear to ilrst advance it in unison with the turret during the indexing motion and to retract it while the turret is at rest to thereby rotate the heads at said remaining stations, and means for vertically moving said iront and rear end sections of said sector gear during lits advancing motion to carry said sections respectively into and out of engagement with the pinion gears on the heads lbeing indexed away from the last non-rotating and the last rotating stations.

15. In a machine of the type comprising al movable carrier having thereon a plurality or rotatably mounted heads and means for intermittently indexing said carrier to carry the heads to a plurality of stations, a locking shoe and a pinion gear carried by each oi' said heads, a stationary vtrack extending adjacent the path of travel o! said heads in position to be engaged by4 the sh'oes thereon to lock the heads against ro. tation, the said track extending alongside a series of successive stations and projecting beyond the station at each end of the said series part of the distance toward the adjacentstation, and means for rotating the heads located at the other sta- .o

tions comprising an oscillating gear member positioned to engage the head pinion gears. said gear member being of such length that when one end thereof is in engagement with the head at one end oi' said other stations the other end overlaps the adjacent end of the said track, means -for advancing the gear member in unison with the indexingI movement of the turret from an original position at which its iront end overlaps the rear end of the track to a position at which its rear end overlaps the front end of the track and for then retracting the gear memberto its original position while thecarrier is at rest to thereby rotate the heads at the said other stations, the said gear member having its front and rear end portions c`onstructed and arranged to be moved into and out of engagement Iwith certain lhead pinion gears while its intermediate portion is in continuous engagement with tht pinion gears on heads contiguous therewith, and means operable upon advancement o! the gear member for moving said front end portion into engagement with the pinion on a head before said head leaves the rear end of said track while moving the rear end portion of the gear member out of engagement with the pinion gear on another head after said head engages the front end oi' said track.

Fam: B. IDEN. 

